Posted in Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Tween Reads

A Kazakhstan bestseller arrives on US shelves: Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup, by Zira Nauryzbai & Lilya Kalaus, Translated by Shelley Fairweather-Vega, (Aug. 2023, Amazon Crossing), $17.99, ISBN: 9781662507021

Ages 8-12

Batu is a regular kid living in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He lives with his parents and his grandmother. He has two close friends, a boy named Sasha and a girl named Dana. He and Sasha are mercilessly bullied by a kid he calls Scorpion, and another boy named Kaira. One day, while sitting on the threshold of his apartment, Batu accidentally summons an ancient teenage warrior named Aspara, who asks for Batu’s help in locating a lost treasure – the Golden Cup – stolen from his people. Using a magical string instrument called a dombyra, Batu and Aspara transport themselves across time to seek audience with the great eagle Samruk, whom they discover is missing. Batu enlists Sasha and Dana to help he and Aspara find Samruk and defend themselves against the dark forces of Shahruh, an evil spirit who takes the form of a giant black bear. The first in a new series, published in Kazakhstan in 2014, is an adventure in the Rick Riordan Presents vein, introducing readers to Kazakh myth and legend while addressing complexities of colonization. It’s a strong debut in an exciting new series. Booktalk this one.

Check out an interview with the authors at The Children’s Book Review.

Posted in Intermediate, Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Non-Fiction, picture books, Preschool Reads

Animals, Animals, Animals!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Search for a Giant Squid, by Amy Seto Forrester/Illustrated by Andy Chou Musser, (Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9781797213934

Ages 6-9

Choose your own adventure, nonfiction style! Readers can learn about the elusive giant squid while navigating their own adventure. The stage is set: the team is going on an expedition to find a giant squid. Readers can choose a scientist, a submersible, and a dive site, and each choice leads to a different adventure. Does every adventure end with a squid encounter? Maybe, maybe not, but there is a lot to learn and see. Colorful illustrations, a diverse and inclusive group of scientists to choose from, and comic book pacing, word bubbles, and explanations make this a great way to engage readers and interest them in STEM studies. Search for a Giant Squid has a starred review from Booklist.

 

The Wild Life of Animals, by Mike Barfield/Illustrated by Paula Bossio, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $19.99, ISBN: 9781684646494

Ages 7-11

With comic book art and pacing, this look into the “secret lives of astounding animals” is a fun, informative add to animal collections. Organized by habitats and lifestyles, The Wild Life of Animals covers areas including oceans, rivers and swamps, grasslands, deserts and polar regions; nocturnal animals get their own section. Profiled animals tell their stories from their personal experience, with a sense of humor to educate and entertain: the Pygmy Hippopotamus, for instance, yawns, showing their tusks and teeth, and coyly asks, “is this a warning or am I just yawning? Come any nearer and you’ll soon find out!” A glossary is there to help readers learn new terms. Originally published in Great Britain earlier this year, this is a good volume for intermediate learners who enjoy animals; the graphic novel format makes this an excellent add to nonfiction and graphic nonfiction shelves.

 

LifeSize Deadly Animals, by Sophy Henn, Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $17.99, ISBN: 9781684645671

Ages 3-8

Fans of Steve Jenkins’s Actual Size books will enjoy this look at some of the deadliest animals on the planet. Opening the book, readers are greeted by lifesize rendering of a harpy eagle’s talons, outstretched and ready to grab… your nose? Your arm? Page after page of life-sized color illustrations, accompanied with factual, easy-to-read text, present predators like the dragonfly (don’t laugh – you’re not a small insect!), the black caiman (so many teeth), or a lion (spiky tongue). Spreads lead up to the fold-out great white shark’s mouth, big enough to swallow… the reader? Back matter includes statistics on profiled animals, including how many LifeSize books it would take to measure one. A good companion series to the Actual Size books. LifeSize Deadly Animals is the fourth in the LifeSize series.

 

Who Made This Mess?, by Laura Gehl/Illustrated by Aleksandar Stojsic, (Aug. 2023, Capstone), $18.99, ISBN: 9781684466290

Ages 4-8

This laugh-out-loud farm mystery is perfect for a rollicking read-aloud. Nighttime moos, missing carrots and splattered mud, what is going on at the farm? The rhyming verse and pictures give readers just enough clues to make a guess… and the reveals hilariously defy expectations! Endpapers show silhouetted animals, wide-open eyes showing through; cartoon artwork is appealing and made for fun readalouds. A sweet story about relying on assumptions and keeping an open mind, this is a great way to get new students ready for a new school year. Pair this up with Sandra Boynton’s Barnyard Dance and Doreen Cronin’s Click Clack Moo books for hilarious barnyard fun.

 

Posted in Realistic Fiction, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

We’re Not Gonna Take: Love & Resistance by Kara H.L. Chen

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Love & Resistance, by Kara H.L. Chen, (July 2023, Quill Tree Books), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063237834

Ages 13-17

Enough is enough for one Taiwanese-American teen who goes up against her school’s VIPs – with the help of some new friends. Olivia Chang, daughter of a military mom, is at her fourth school in seven years; she’s created rules for survival: stay anonymous. Embrace isolationism. Soon enough, she’ll be out of this little Ohio town and off to college, and leave this toxic mess behind. But she ends up on the In Crowd’s radar when she hears Mean Girl leader Mitzi Clarke make a racist comment about how certain students skew test results; Livvy speaks up, and war is declared, taking place on the social media battlefields that Mitzi and her minions dominate. Until NerdNet comes to the rescue: a quietly operating group of students who use their know-how to defend the bullied, they take up Livvy’s cause and bring her into the group. Empowered by their friendship, Livvy and NerdNet work together to upend the system: but Livvy may push too hard, go too far. Taking on the cult of social media and casual racism, Love & Resistance is reading teen readers will dive into. Livvy is a complicated heroine who risks becoming the type of bully she’s pushing back against, and her fellow NerdNet members have fully realized backstories, making them as realistic and likable as our heroine. The pace moves quickly and the book is compulsively readable, with much food for thought and discussion. Add this to your Fall purchases if you haven’t yet.

Posted in Animal Fiction, Fantasy, Teen, Young Adult/New Adult

Great YA/Adult Crossover Choice: The Navigating Fox

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Navigating Fox, by Christopher Rowe, (Sept. 2023, Tordotcom), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250804501

Ages 13+

This is one of those great fantasy tales that appeals to teen or adult readers. Set in a world where animals and humans interact together, and where there are “knowledegeable” and “voiceless” animals, Quintus Shu’al is a knowledgeable fox; a navigating fox who acted as a guide until one fatal expedition left him in disgrace. A year after that journey, he is offered the opportunity to redeem himself by leading another team – including the sibling of one of the members of his last group – to the gates of Hell itself. The narrative moves back and forth in time between the present and the previous year’s excursion, giving readers a fuller understanding of the main character and some insight into the developing plot and character motives. It’s a cozy fantasy with adventure, with solid pacing and a likable main character whose mysterious backstory – even he doesn’t know it! – assures that readers will be invested in more adventures. Great for Redwall, Longburrow, or Mouse Guard readers. Pair this on a display with Ben Hatke’s Reynard’s Tale for more fantastic, foxy fantasy. The Navigating Fox has starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

 

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, Intermediate, Middle Grade, Science Fiction, Teen, Tween Reads, Young Adult/New Adult

More Graphic Novels – if you haven’t read them, they’re new to you!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Another graphic novel TBR rundown!

Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy, by Jonathan Hill, (Sept. 2022, Walker Books), $24.99, ISBN: 9781536216462

Ages 8-12

Tommy Tompkins is the new kid in town, and he’s from somewhere REALLY different: he’s a lizard person from beneath the earth! Beginning seventh grade in a new town is tough enough, but Tommy has an entirely new face and has to pretend to eat human food, which he thinks is gross. It’s hard enough to hide his true self from people, but seeing how different beings are treated in the media makes him feel even worse: there’s a show that’s all about lizard people trying to take over the world, for crying out loud. He and his family aren’t trying to take over anything; they’re looking for a safe place to live. Making friends with other outsiders – Dung Tran, a Vietnamese kid whose scientist parents are working to figure out a series of mysterious sinkholes popping up in the area, and Scarlett Roberts, the janitor’s punk rock daughter – helps for a little while until Tommy lets jealousy get the best of him. A fun graphic novel with a relatable story about accepting and welcoming others, Tales of a Seventh Grade Lizard Boy builds on humor and delivers a stirring subplot focusing on Tommy’s isolation and longing for home. An author note details Hill’s inspiration for the story and details on delicious-sounding Vietnamese food. Endpapers add to the fun with a yearbook layout complete with scribbles over different class photos. A fun addition to graphic novel collections.

 

The Mighty Bite, by Nathan Hale, (Apr. 2023, Abrams), $14.99, ISBN: 9781419765537

Ages 7-10

The creator of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales has a surreal new graphic novel that makes internet stars out of a Trilobite and a whale named Amber. The two don’t realize that the rest of the world thinks trilobites and ambulocetuses are extinct, so when paleo-newscaster Tiffany Timber discovers them, she thinks she’s going to be famous. Which makes Trilobite think he and Amber are going to be famous. It’s a manic and hilarious look at the hunt for those 15 minutes of fame, social media, and a video-making slobberknocker that hits the sweet spot for middle grade readers. Two-color blue and black illustration is calming against the frenetic pace of the novel, with wild fonts sharing space with giant gorillas, zombie pigs and maggot-infested harmonicas, and more. Hale sets up a possible sequel at the end. Middle graders will devour this one and relish the sheer mania.

The Mighty Bite has a starred review from Booklist.

 

Global: One Fragile World. An Epic Fight for Survival, by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin/Illustrated by Giovanni Rigano, (Apr. 2023, Sourcebooks Young Readers), $14.99, ISBN: 9781728262192

Ages 10-14

The creative powerhouse behind 2018’s Illegal is back with a story of climate change. Two narratives; two stories; two areas of the world ravaged by climate change. At the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, 12-year-old Sami lives with his grandfather. Orphaned by storms that also claimed their home, Sami and his grandfather try to eke out a living on their fishing boat, but there are fewer and fewer fish to be caught; there are also pirates who will steal their catch. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Yuki lives in Northern Canada inside the Arctic Circle. The ice is melting, and bears have begun wandering into residential areas, looking for food. Polar bears and brown bears, their territories mixed up thanks to climate change have started mating, creating a new breed, Grolars. Yuki wants to bring the grolars’ plight to public attention: the bears don’t have the skills to hunt on ice, like a polar bear, or to catch salmon in the rivers, like brown bears. Climate change and human encroachment could spell the end for these bears unless Yuki can do something about it. Each story is a climate change tale that has drastically changed the land and made life difficult for those who live there. Through Sami’s and Yuki’s eyes, readers see how all life is affected – from plants and animals to humans – and how each of the main characters pushes back against despair and surrender to keep going. It’s a page-turning adventure with masterful color illustration making use of ominous shadows, murky earth tones, and cool blues and whites. Back matter includes an author’s note and a graphic novel explanation of global warming. An excellent choice for graphic novel collections and realistic fiction readers who may have moved on from I Survived, but still love tales of survival. Download a free educator guide on the Sourcebooks website.

Global has a starred review from Foreword Reviews.

 

Northranger, by Rey Terciero/Illustrated by Bre Indigo, (June 2023, HarperAlley), $26.99, ISBN: 9780063007390

Ages 12+

A queer spin on Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, Northranger introduces readers to 16-year-old Cade Muñoz, who has to spend his summer working alongside his stepfather, Dale, in at the General’s – Dale’s old Army buddy – ranch. Not thrilled with the prospect of shoveling poop for the summer, not to mention sharing a room with Dale, he is pleasantly surprised to discover the General’s friendly twin children, Henri and Henry. Cade and Henry are attracted to one another and start up a romantic relationship, but Cade is frustrated by Tyler’s secretive nature; a ranch hand convinced that the General killed his wife doesn’t help matters. As the teens struggle with homophobia, racism, coming out, and family relationships, their own relationship hits rocky waters. Cade is Mexican-American; his mother and grandmother sprinkle Spanish in their conversations. Cade’s stepfather and stepsister are Black; Henry, his sister, and father are white. The sepia color palette adds a timelessness to the story, with creative use of shadows to add to the mystery of Northranger. An author’s note rounds out the story. An excellent work of realistic fiction and YA romance.

Northranger has a starred review from the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books and Shelf Awareness.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Oh No, the Aunts are Here! is fun and chaotic, like family should be

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Oh No, the Aunts are Here!, by Adam Rex/Illustrated by Lian Cho, (May 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781797207940

Ages 5-8

It begins, one imagines, with a disturbance in the Force… or maybe with the slightest tremor, like the cup of water on the car dashboard in Jurassic Park. A child sits at a table eating cereal, parents bustling in the kitchen behind them, when the child hears it: “Something’s coming. They’re getting closer”. And suddenly, they crash through the door: the Aunts have arrived, abuzz with excitement and delight. The four aunts delight in their little darling, foregoing any sense of personal space as they hug, style, lick thumbs to wipe something off the child’s face (GAH!), and take over their room for a visit. The Aunts talk and talk and talk as they drag the family around to take in the local color. The aunts come in handy, though, as they prove when an unwelcome guest arrives at breakfast one day. Laugh-out-loud reading is rife with moments every kid will groan at the thought of – for me it was the spit-wipe – this is a story that never gets old, because family visits are always ripe for wacky stories. Warm watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustration creates expressive characters with fun details: one aunt absolutely sports a “World’s Best Aunt” t-shirt and has an “Auntlicious” one in her luggage; the child’s body language during a visit to a quilt museum is hilariously spot on. The child and their family are brown-skinned; the aunts are a multicultural, diverse grouping. You can’t ask for a better story to read aloud. Pair this with Alice P. McGinty’s Bathe the Cat for a wacky family storytime.

Oh No, the Aunts are Here has starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus.

Posted in Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Intermediate, Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Non-Fiction

Graphic Novel rundown

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

As I continue scaling Mount TBR, I’ve got some good graphic novels to share!

Batcat, by Meggie Ramm, (March 2023, Amulet Books), $13.99, ISBN: 9781419756573

Ages 7-10

Batcat is a round, pink, half-bat and half-cat who lives alone in their oak tree home on Spooky Island. They love mushroom pizza and junk food, video games, and being alone – until the day when a ghost decides to haunt their home. Batcat is besides themselves: the ghost is SO RUDE! The ghost is constantly talking, and commits the cardinal sin of eating Batcat’s ice cream. Fed up, Batcat heads to the Island Witch for a spell to get rid of the ghost, and ends up on a journey for the ingredients to mix up the spell. First, Batcat has to go to the Cavernous Caves, where bats tell Batcat that they aren’t batty enough to be a bat. Then, it’s off to the Whispering Cemetery, where the cats that live there tell Batcat that they’re not committed to being cat enough. Batcat is frustrated and sad: why do they have to be one thing or the other? That’s the whole point of Batcat: it’s perfectly fine to be yourself, and don’t let anyone pressure you into being something you’re not comfortable with. Batcat is a delightful story about embracing our own individuality, delivering a strong, sweet message to readers throughout the story: “The Island Witch was neither a good witch nor a bad witch. She was somewhere in between. Batcat liked that, as they were neither one thing nor another themselves”. This message runs throughout the story, and some readers may notice the bright, vibrant colors running throughout the story map to the colors of the Nonbinary flag. Full of humor and moments of self-awareness and acceptance, Batcat is an adorable story about finding friendship and discovering our place in the world.

Batcat has a starred review from School Library Journal.

 

 

History Comics: Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin: Civil Rights Heroes, by Tracey Baptiste/Illustrated by Shauna J. Grant, (Jan. 2023, First Second), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250174215

Ages 9-13

The History Comics series is another nonfiction graphic novel win. The kids in my library love them, and First Second’s strong author and illustrator teams make for a winning combination of solid writing, pacing, and art. Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin: Civil Rights Heroes brings Claudette Colvin’s story to the forefront. Most people think that Rosa Parks was the first person to refuse to move to the back of the bus during the Jim Crow South, but 15-year-old Claudette Colvin was actually the first. Narrated in Colvin’s voice, readers get a summation of life during segregation and the seeds of activism planted by her teacher, Mrs. Lawrence, who told her class the unvarnished truth about history: “Are you who theysay you are? Or are youwho you say you are?” The narrative moves into Colvin’s arrest and trial, her civil rights work, and how Parks and Colvin knew one another long before Rosa Parks’s defining moment in Montgomery, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott. While covering history, Baptiste also gives a glimpse into Colvin’s and Parks’s life, providing a look at the people behind the legends. Baptiste, a bestselling middle grade author, knows how to write for her audience and provoke feelings of frustration, anger, and the desire for change. She does not shy away from the ugly side of history, touching on Emmett Till’s violent murder and Recy Taylor’s rape at gunpoint. Grant’s expressive illustrations bring Baptiste’s words to life and keep readers engaged. Afterwords from Baptiste and Grant complete the back matter. An essential addition to civil rights, social justice, and graphic novel nonfiction collections.

The Zinn Education Project has webpages dedicated to Colvin, including a Day in History link to March 2, 1955, when she refused to give up her bus seat, with links to more resources. There is a wealth of information on the Montgomery Bus Boycott, including History.com, Encyclopedia Britannica, the National Women’s History Museum, and the Encyclopedia of Alabama.

 

Codex Black (Book One): A Fire Among Clouds, by Camilo Moncada Lozano, (Apr. 2023, IDW Publishing), $16.99, ISBN: 9781684059591

Ages 12+

Set in 15th century Mesoamerica, the first book in the Codex Black series is an adventure bringing together Donají, a teen Zapotec girl who sets out on a journey to find her father, and Itzcacalotl, a teen Mexica warrior, who happens to have wings. Together, along with the god that lives inside Donají’s poncho, the two face monsters and defend villages, while trying to solve the mystery behind Donají’s father’s disappearance. Originally a webcomic on Tapas, Codex Black: A Fire Among Clouds makes a seamless transition to graphic novel. Lozano weaves a hero/heroine’s journey with fantastic and historical elements, rich in pre-Columbian history. The vibrant artwork, the expressive characters, the historical clothing, and cultural details are all breathtaking. Perfect for middle school into high school readers, this is what to hand your readers that have moved beyond (but never away from) Rick Riordan and Rick Riordan Presents adventures.

Want to learn more about the differences between Webtoons and Tapas? Check out this helpful article. Teachers Pay Teachers has some good resources for Mesoamerican studies, too: Tony the Tourist has reading passages; Teaching to the Middle has passages on Mayan religions; Mama Made Resources has reading comprehension on the Olmecs; Carroll’s Curations has a Mesoamerican Overview presentation on Powerpoint, and SimplyKristalClear has a Mesoamerican Geography document.

 

What Happens Next?: Talent Show Troubles, by Jess Smart Smiley, (Apr. 2023, First Second), $12.99, ISBN: 9781250889263
Ages 7-10

The Choose Your Own Adventure model works so well with this funny graphic novel about Megan, a tween targeted by seagulls and determined to do her part in making the school talent show a success. As readers make choices throughout the story, they’ll encounter dogs pooping backstage, a sick stage manager (or is it more?) and a wanted bandit – and that’s just a few of the wacky events in store for readers. Each turn of the page brings new decisions and consequences; there are over 100 paths and 29 endings available, meaning a LOT of re-reads in this book’s future. Bold cartoon art and hilarious dialogue makes this a graphic novel that readers are going to enjoy the first time and the hundredth time. What Happens Next?: Science Fair Frenzy just hit shelves in June, so pair them up. Booktalk this one to your storytellers who enjoy having some control over the outcome of a story.

Jess Smart Smiley’s webpage has links to events, animated stickers, and info on joining his First Readers Club, where readers can read his newest books for free while giving him feedback.

More to come!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Concept Book Party!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I love filling up the Concept book section at my library. They’re such fun ways for little learners to explore the ABCs, 123s, colors, opposites… all of the foundational learning. I’ve got some new (and new-ish) concept books here for you to enjoy. Dive in!

Some of These are Snails, by Carter Higgins, (May 2023, Chronicle Books), $15.99, ISBN: 9781797220185

Ages 2-4

I love a Carter Higgins book. Her 2021 book Circle Under Berry played with shapes and colors, and concepts of proximity in a charming, fun way; he’s back with Some of These are Snails, which promises more rhyming, concept fun. Now we’re learning to sort: Higgins introduces colorful animals and shapes, inviting learners to sort them out: “Can you sort by color? / Can you sort by size? / Can you sort by shape or find the animals with eyes?” Higgins also works with size, putting three shapes together to demonstrate how some are bigger than others, reinforcing which shape is which for reference: “big bigger biggest / owl square purple / small smaller smallest / orange turtle circle”. It’s fun to read, fun to listen to, and the brightly colored collage artwork will keep everyone’s attention (and makes for a fun after-program craft: get paper plates and tissue paper!). There are so many ways to read this story during a readaloud: audience participation, felt boards, cutout shapes, shakers to invite readers to chime in when looking for “animals with eyes” or bees versus ovals. Absolute fun and proof that learning is delightful. Visit Carter Higgins’s author webpage for free companion resources to her books, including Some of These Are Snails.

Some of These are Snails has a starred review from Booklist.

 

1, 2, 3, Do the Robot, by Michelle Robinson/Illustrated by Rosalind Bearshaw, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $13.99, ISBN: 9781684645664

Ages 2-6

This STEM/STEAM focused rhyming adventures stars a a young inventor named Layla, who creates a robot friend. The two create other robots, spend some time tinkering, and throw a robot dance party that will have readers dancing in their seats during a readaloud (or, if you’re like me, get them up and dance). I love a good tinkering story (add The Most Magnificent Thing, Izzy Gizmo, Geraldine, and the Questioneers series for a STEAM-tastic display and readaloud). Layla is a brown-skinned girl wearing an orange jumpsuit and green pompoms on her head – who says science can’t be fun? The rhyme scheme is playful and consistent, making for a fun readaloud; the robots are adorable and look like they’ve been tinkered from items around the house, like a colander and springs. Layla’s room is full of fun details: toys mix with science tools like beakers, yarn, a sewing machine, tape, test tubes, and measuring tape. Fun for early STEAM clubs! 1, 2, 3 do the Robot teaches STEAM concepts and is the companion to Robinson and Beardshaw’s 1, 2, 3 Do the Dinosaur (2020) and 1, 2, 3, do the Shark (2021).

 

Tow Truck 1, 2, 3, by Eric Ode/Illustrated by Ken Culotta, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684645541

Ages 3-7

Three friendly tow trucks save the day in this fun rhyming story that teaches color concepts. Each tow truck has a different color, size, and function; they work together to help rescue other vehicles that need help. Truck One is a flatbed who can use her movable ramp to help a car stuck by a highway; Truck two has a hook and chain to pull a friend stuck in the mud. Truck Three also has a hook and chain, and is smaller than Trucks One and Two, giving them passage to smaller spots and able to rescue a friend who’s gotten stuck in a hard-to-reach spot. Cars are colorful, with bright, primary colors, and with friendly, anthropomorphic faces. Endpapers show the cars heading out from the garage to start their day, and returning at the end of the day with the friends they’ve helped. The rhyme scheme makes for a good readaloud, and kids love car stories. A fun addition to collections where vehicle books, like those by Stephen Savage, Kate and Jim McMullan, and Sherri Duskey Rinker do well.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

A longing for home in Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Homeland : My Father Dreams of Palestine, by Hannah Moushabeck/Illustrated by Reem Madooh, (March 2023, Chronicle Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781797202051

Ages 5-8

Three girls wait for their father to come so he can delight them with stories of his boyhood in Pakistan. Through his stories, the girls connect to their father and his homeland: a neighbor who farts so powerfully he leaves the chair; his grandmother, who dropped a basket on a rope from the window for the bread man to fill; the sounds of street vendors singing out their wares, the children playing, and the members of the community greeting one another in all languages. He remembers the last day he saw his grandfather, who brought him to a garden by the family café. Father shows his daughters the key to their family’s home – a home others likely occupy now – and a sadness takes over; the girls hope to return one day, but will dream of Palestine until that time. A story of family, hope, and longing, Homeland is one family’s bittersweet story of the Palestinian diaspora, brought beautifully to life by Madooh, whose rich digital illustrations bring daily life in Palestine to readers. Front endpapers show a rendering of black-and-white photos from Palestine; back endpapers show renderings of color photos of Moushabeck’s father and family in America. Gorgeous details throughout show a diverse culture in the streets and cafés of Jerusalem, with food, clothing, and music on each spread. An author’s note and photos provide deeper context and a glossary provides Arabic writing, pronounciation, and definitions for words that come up in the story. An excellent choice for collections, especially as we enter the final days of the All Together Now Summer Reading theme.

Posted in Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, Non-fiction, Tween Reads

National Geographic Kids 2024 Almanac Book Blitz & Giveaway!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Buy | Goodreads

The New York Times best-selling Almanac is packed with incredible photos, tons of fun facts, National Geographic exclusives, games, activities, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, and more.

This new edition features:

  • EXCLUSIVE National Geographic Explorer interviews and features
  • EXCLUSIVE Interactive Almanac Challenge 2024, plus the results of the Almanac Challenge 2023
  • BONUS SECTION of sidesplitting jokes and riddles
  • NEW fun-tastic things to see and do in 2024
  • NEW cutest animal superlatives and animal rescue stories
  • NEW science and dinosaur discoveries
  • NEW fun games, quizzes, and activities
  • NEW weird and wacky places around the world
  • NEW experiments to do, places to explore, and ways to change the world
  • UPDATED reference material, including fast facts and maps of every country

Check out THIS PAGE for more information and to take the 2024 Almanac Challenge, Elephant-Stagram!

Praise:

“…this gathering of upbeat, vividly illustrated, browser-friendly dips into topics ranging from black holes to blue-footed boobies to Bolivian street food is hard to put down, and the pop quizzes and research guides at each chapter’s end will give studious sorts a leg up, too”.― Kirkus

 

GIVEAWAY!

  • Three (3) winners will receive a copy of National Geographic Kids Almanac 2024
  • US/Canada only
  • Ends 7/2 at 11:59pm ET
  • Enter via the Rafflecopter below

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